American rally at Presidents Cup to keep international team within reach
Thomas (left) and Woods earned two points for the American team
A late rally through the United States held them within three points of the international team after two days of the Presidential Cup.
The international team, which led & # 39; 4-1 at night, led the way in all five games in Royal Melbourne and won the first of the day to rise 5-1.
Both sides traded points before American captain Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas won a second competition match.
The last game on Friday was halved to leave the score at 6½-3½.
"At one point, it looked rather gloomy, but the boys turned it around," said Woods, who chose himself as a wildcard for the team. "They played phenomenally incoming.
" It was important for us to put an end to our way of doing things and it changed completely in the last hour.
"The energy has been there. These guys are all young and extremely enthusiastic about being part of this team.
" I think more than anything, it just gives a feeling for this golf course. It's fast. "
International couple Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott defeated Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar 3 & 2 in the first four match on the second day.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele earned the US a 1UP victory on Adam Hadwin and Joaquin Niemann to withdraw one point.
Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman restored the lead of the international team with four points with a 3 and 2 win over Patrick Reed and Webb Simpson.
Woods and Thomas, who secured the US their only point on the opening day, again won with a 1UP victory over An Byeong-them and Hideki Matsuyama.
The last match in which it international couple Im Sung-jae exploded and Cameron Smith against the American duo Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland was cut in half.
"They (the US) played well there," said international captain Ernie Els.
"But hey, look at the record we have had in the foursome for the last 25 years and f or us getting 2½-2½ in the session is like a win for us.
"We would have done that at the beginning of the day."
